English
joyfriend
Blend of joy + boyfriend.
Latin gaudeō ‘to be glad, rejoice’
Latin gaudium
Late Latin gaudia
Old French joie
Middle English joye ‘joy’
English joy
The story
The word joy emphasizes the happiness the person brings to the relationship.
Today it means
noun A non-binary partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / joyfriend